Shloka 17
Chapter 84: Brahmā’s Counsel on Tāraka, the Search for Agni, and the Genesis of Skanda
Kārttikeya
गावस्तेजो महद् दिव्यं गवां दान॑ प्रशस्यते । ये चैता: सम्प्रयच्छन्ति साधवो वीतमत्सरा:
vyāsa uvāca | gāvas tejo mahad divyaṃ gavāṃ dānaṃ praśasyate | ye caitāḥ samprayacchanti sādhavo vītamatsarāḥ |
Wika ni Vyāsa: “Ang mga baka ay may dakila at makalangit na ningning; kaya’t pinupuri ang pag-aalay ng baka. Yaong mabubuting tao na, walang inggit at poot, ay nagkakaloob ng mga bakang ito, ay itinuturing na tunay na mararangal sa kabutihan. Ang gayong mga nagkakaloob ay binibilang na parang nagbigay ng lahat ng uri ng handog, at nararating nila ang banal na daigdig ng mga baka—ang Goloka.”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that go-dāna (the gift of cows) is especially meritorious because cows are viewed as bearing divine tejas; the ethical condition emphasized is vīta-matsaratā—giving without envy, rivalry, or grudging—so that charity becomes pure and spiritually fruitful.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma and gifts, Vyāsa states a doctrinal praise of cow-gifting: virtuous, non-envious donors who give cows are celebrated and are said to gain an exalted posthumous destination (Goloka, as understood in the traditional explanation).